It has been a case of so far, so good for McMullan Agri which has established itself as a leading supplier of new and used farm machinery since its inception in October 2019.
Based in Armoy near Ballymoney in Co. Antrim, the dealership is run by brothers Laurence – a former Dealer Sales Manager of the Year Award winner – and David McMullan with the help of their nephew Jonny McMullan. As well as stocking a wide range of used tractors, telehandlers, excavators and other agricultural equipment, McMullan Agri are also main dealers for Krone, Amazone, Quicke, APV, VDW and ArmaTrac tractors.
The McMullan brothers have over 30 years’ combined experience in the agri industry and are dedicated to the supply of quality equipment. They have an expanding customer-base and delivery can be arranged throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the UK.
“We pride ourselves on the excellent quality of our machinery, both new and used, and the exceptional service we offer customers. Our product knowledge is second to none,” Laurence McMullan says.
“We started off selling used tractors and telehandlers. Since then, we’ve become agents for VDW, ArmaTrac, Amazone, Quicke and Krone. We’ve got a great response and are growing all the time.”
The family-run business is committed to providing a professional and value-for-money service to meet the growing requirements of its customers along with knowledge and understanding of the industry that will ultimately benefit them. A comprehensive range of quality used machinery is stocked at all times, with McMullan Agri having an excellent reputation for sourcing high-quality used tractors.
“Used machinery sales remains our core business,” Laurence points out.
“We stock all the leading tractor brands, including John Deere, New Holland, Case, McCormick, CLAAS, Zetor and Deutz. The same goes for our telehandler brands which include JCB, Kramer, Merlo, Manitou, Weidemann, Terex, Schaffer and Matbro. We also stock Hitachi, Komatsu, Kubota and Takeuchi excavators, with John Deere, New Holland, Case, JCB and Manitou being our best-selling brands.
“All our stock is HPI-checked for customer peace of mind and protection. We can source any size of tractor or telehandler to suit the client’s needs and budget. Over the past 25 years, I’ve forged strong relationships with many reputable dealers in the UK. I have a network of contacts who I can call on if I need a particular machine. I only deal with exceptional clean and tidy stuff with low hours on the clock.”
“The customer comes first with us and we’re always available to deal with their queries.”
The McMullan Agri premises boasts a large yard and will soon have a covered area for storing new machinery. Laurence is very happy with how each of the dealerships are performing. Since becoming sole distributors for VDW Constructie in Northern Ireland last October, over 15 units have been sold. A brand that stands for affordable quality and is tailored to the customer, VDW design and manufacture fodder and mixing machines, straw spreaders, silage spreaders, manure mixers and tillage equipment.
Sales of the Turkish tractor brand ArmaTrac, which McMullan Agri became a dealer for last November, have also been brisk. ArmaTrac tractors are simple and easy to maintain with few electronics. The driveline is well proven with Perkins engines, with the option of Deutz, ZF and Carraro transmissions.
There has also been considerable interest in Krone and Amazone, which joined the McMullan Agri stable recently.
“Krone and Amazone have always been brands we have admired. In our eyes, they are the best silage and tillage machinery that money can buy. We’re looking forward to dealing with the farmers and contractors in our area, and showing what these great brands of machinery have to offer.”
Working in partnership with Norman Knox of APS, McMullan Agri looks after his sales and he looks after their servicing, repairs and parts.
“It works very well. We are both well-known in the area and are only three miles apart,” Laurence says of the partnership.
McMullan Agri has met the challenges posed by Brexit and Covid-19 head on, and continues to go from strength to strength.
“While Brexit has led to longer delays, more paperwork and made stock more expensive, it hasn’t held us back and neither has Covid, which hasn’t really had an adverse effect on the farming sector. We’ve sold machines to customers all over Ireland and the UK. In many cases, the stock we’re sourcing in the UK is going straight back over, which reflects the shortage of good stock that’s available at the moment.”
Laurence continues: “We’ve got great support locally which has been very gratifying. Farmers in Armoy, Coleraine, Ballymoney and surrounding areas have really got behind us.”
With David McMullan looking after the day-to-day running of the business, Laurence is able to concentrate on what he does best – selling farm machinery. While working for a previous employer, he became the first person from Ireland, North or South, to win an Agri Machinery Trade News Award.
Laurence flew over to Manchester in March 2018 to receive his Dealer Sales Manager of the Year Award. The Agri Machinery Trade News Awards were created to recognise and reward excellence by people in the farm machinery trade, with voting taking place each year online.
Laurence’s nephew Jonny has also proven himself to be a capable salesman since changing careers. “Johnny was a school teacher before he joined us, but has taken to sales like a duck to water. He’s a natural at it and has become a very important part of the team.”
McMullan Agri would like to take this opportunity to thank its customers and suppliers for their tremendous support to date.
McMullan Agri
Carrowcrin Road,
Armoy,
Ballymoney,
Co. Antrim.
BT53 8YL.
Telephone: 0044 (0)7395 832 164 (Laurence) / 0044 (0)7522 426 847 (Jonny)
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.mcmullanagri.com
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 9 No 5, September/October 2021
